Violent protests in Belfast after a man was stabbed in the street. Several cars and properties were set on fire
Several protests took place in Belfast on Tuesday 9 June following a knife attack in the city. Some demonstrations turned violent, with participants burning cars and property, while others were peaceful.
Violent protests in Belfast/PHOTO: Youtube video capture/The Sun
According to the BBC, houses and cars were set on fire and public transport in Belfast was suspended after the protests broke out.
While some demonstrations were peaceful, violence broke out in several towns across Northern Ireland and police appealed for calm. A video shared online shows several people confronting the alleged attacker before law enforcement arrived.
“Cars were torched in the street and the fire spread to my house as masked people broke down doors”a resident of Lendrick Street in east Belfast told BBC News.
A group of around 100 masked people were on Newtownards Road, east Belfast, where doors and windows were smashed. According to Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows, a large number of them were teenagers.
Garbage containers and a bus were also set on fire.
A spokesman for transport company Translink condemned the attack on the bus and announced the suspension of services.
Northern Irish authorities condemned the violence that erupted after the attack in Belfast and appealed for calm. Justice Minister Naomi Long warned that “hate cannot win,” and police asked local community leaders to encourage peaceful protests.
During the evening, firefighters intervened in 62 incidents.
“The majority of these incidents took place in the Belfast metropolitan area, where a further 21 ambulances from across Northern Ireland were required to deal with the situation”NIFRS said in a statement issued after midnight.
A pastor who helped those affected by the attacks said that members of his church, “who have been with us for 20 years”are driven from their homes “because I'm black.”
“I am angry and disappointed that this is the reaction of some people in our community”Pastor Jack McKee said.
The protesters also targeted a Turkish barbershop. Officials and political leaders strongly condemned the destruction and stressed that there is no justification for such acts of violence and hooliganism.
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After the unrest broke out, Northern Ireland's Prime Minister Michelle O'Neill criticized what she described as “groups of masked men driving families from their homes by arson”qualifying the facts as “pure hooliganism”.
“The attack in north Belfast was heinous and wrong, but there are dangerous attempts to exploit that incident to target and attack innocent people”she added.
Deputy Prime Minister Emma Little-Pengelly urged the population to protest peacefully.
“I know everyone is horrified by what happened. I know many are angry and there are people who want to express their protest. This is a call to action in a completely peaceful way. Violence does not advance any cause, it hurts them.” she said.
Keir Starmer: “I do not tolerate such abominable scenes at all”
The knife attack happened on Monday night at around 10.30pm. The alleged perpetrator is a 30-year-old Sudanese man who is due to appear in court on Wednesday, charged with attempted murder.
He is also accused of possessing a white weapon in a public place and making death threats.
A man in his 40s remains in hospital with serious injuries to his eyes, neck and back after the attack on Kinnaird Avenue.
Keir Starmer described the attack as horrific and revolting.
“I absolutely do not tolerate such abominable scenes of violence on our streets. My thoughts go out to the victim first and thank you to the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”
The attack took place at around 10.30pm on Monday outside a block of flats in north Belfast. A video shared on social media shows a man sitting on top of another man on the ground and punching him in the head and neck.
The clip shows people stepping in to stop the assault, with one man using a baton against the attacker.
